This topic came up in a major way after the big snow storm in DC back in Feb of this year (I’m a gov’t worker who faced the same issue). Eventually, they decided that after the snow-days...they couldn’t repeat that again...so if everyone had laptops...they’d just work at home (their logic, not mine).
So over the past couple of months...they’ve produced rules and standards over teleworking. You actually have to have your office phone routed to your home phone. You have to attend meetings via a ‘messenger-like’ service. You have to attend classes to teach you ethics and accountability over teleworking.
So I brought this up to my Army boss (a LTC)...and he said I was needed at the job, period. Even in the event of complete blizzard...I needed to make my way to the job. So when you read up on this telework business for gov’t workers...don’t anticipate that we all get offered this deal.
I have worked, exclusively out of my home that entire time. In fact I have only been at the corporate office once in my life, the week I was hired/trained.
There is no reason that the "paper pushers" (people that do all of their work via the computer) can't do the same. I love it, and wouldn't change a thing.
Some of the things you describe are why I’m skeptical that this is going to actually save money.
It looks like each agency will require a Telework Officer. Each employee will need to be properly equipped and trained to work at both home and the office. And given the nature of government programs and employee demands, it’s probably a matter of time before taxpayers provide coffee allowances, OSHA-compliant home offices and a little extra to offset their increased utility bills.
I don't think those with actual valuable and needed skills will telecommute.
I anticipate the ones who really only take up space, are seniority-blessed and "earned" the right to put their feet up because "they paid their dues", and those who essentially got their positions becuase they're someone's brother-in-law and/or were hired as a "diversity fill" position will now not be required to report to a worksite.
I used to manage big call centers. The kind that you get when you call a bank or customer service for a large company.
We were the inventors of telecommuting (just about, anyway.)
I used to tell my folks that during a blizzard, hurricane, apocalypse, that if they called my office and I answered the phone to simply hang up and come to work. I drove a Buick Regal. If I could make it, they could make it.
It never took more than one snowstorm for the new supervisors to learn that I had grown up in snow country...and I could drive through anything. And they learned they could too.
In 1978 and 1993 I missed work because of snow. Thats it.